Concealed hinge



May 2, 1939. J, 8 4 2,157,027

CONCEALED HINGE Filed Nov. 9, 19157 INVENTOR z/05EPH 5066 .-r A 7' aATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to what are commonly known as concealed hinges,and particularly to hinges of this class employing butt members withlinks pivoted to the butt members and to each other to form theconcealed linkage, and the object of the invention is to provide a hingeof the class described with means arranged upon at least two of thelinks employed for forming hoods or housings substantially concealingthe linkage of the hinge to form a neat and finished appearance for saidhinge; a further object being to provide cover plates or hood memberswhich in addition to concealing the links of the hinge also serves toreinforce and strengthen the hinge linkage; and with these and otherobjects in view the invention consists in a device of the class and forthe purpose specified which is simple in construction, eflicient in use,and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a part of a stationary support andswinging member showing one of my improved hinges coupled therewith withthe hinge in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing only the hinge.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the hinge in an extendedposition.

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 3,and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge in its open position as shownin Fig. 3.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one method of carrying myinvention into effect, and in this illustration two similar butt membersI0, Illa are employed. These butt members consist of sheet metal platesstamped and fashioned to form a central U-shaped body II, Ila havingprojecting attaching plate portions I2, I2a, by means of which therespective butts may be secured to independent supports I3, I3a asindicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. For example, the support I3 mayconsist of a door frame and the support I3a the door or swinging member.The butts I0, Illa are preferably countersunk in adjacent surfaces ofthe supports I3, I3a as shown, and the spacing between said adjacentsurfaces will depend entirely upon the particular installation, it beingunderstood that the said adjacent surfaces may be arranged closertogether by countersinking the hinge butts deeper in said surface.

The top and bottom walls It, IM of the respective butts are providedwith extensions I5, I5a at one side thereof to form supports for thepintle [61 pins I6, I6a I'I, Ila in connection with which long thinlinks I8, I8a are pivoted, whereas long and wider links I9, I90. arepivoted or mounted on the pintles I1, I la respectively. The latterlinks are pivotally coupled with the free end portions 101 of the firstnamed links, that is to say, the link I 9 is pivoted to the free end ofthe link I8a as seen at 20 whereas the free end of the link I9a ispivoted to the end of the link I8 as seen at 20 The wide links I9, I91].are also pivoted to each other adjacent the pivots 20, a as seen at 2|.

In the construction shown the links I8, I811 I9, I9a. are of laminatedconstruction. The links I8 and I9 are in two groups disposed above andbelow a 20 single group of the links I8a, I9a as will appear from aconsideration of Fig. 4 of the drawing. In other words the links I8 andI9 are arranged side by side as are also the links I8a, I9a.

Arranged upon the links and primarily the links I8, I8a, are coverplates or hood members 22, 22a which have top and bottom walls 23, 23aarranged outwardly of the upper and-lower surfaces of the links I8, I8aincluding part of the links I9, I91: as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1,4 and 5 of the drawing. One end of each hood member has a curved portionas indicated at 24, 24a which covers and conceals the pivotal couplingbetween the respective links as at 20, 20a. The pivots 20, 20a. extendthrough the top and bottom walls 23, 23a of the hood portions as do alsothe pins I6, I6a, the pins 20, 20a projecting beyond the walls 23, 23a.If desired the hood members 22, 22a. may be also-welded to the links [8,I841.

Arranged between the pintle pins I6, I1, and I6a, I'Ia are elongatedspacing washers 25, 25a to form on said pins a solid wall structure toreinforce and strengthen the mounting of the links upon said pintles.The washers 25 are arranged between the groups of links I8I8 and thelinks I9I9 whereas the washers 25a are arranged upon upper and lowersurfaces of the links I8a, I9a as will clearly appear upon aconsideration of Fig. 4 of the drawing. In other words, the washers 25are equivalent in thickness to the links I8a, I9a whereas the washers25a are equal in thickness to the links I8 and I9. It will-be understoodthat solid links may be employed instead of the laminated links in whichevent solid one-piece spacing members may also be employed. Thelaminated structure is employed simply to economize the cost ofproducing the respective parts and to provide for the construction ofgroups of links of diflerent widths in the production of different sizesof hinges, it being understood that the butts will be modified to suitsuch changes in sizes.

The curved portions 24, 24a of the hoods 22, 22a terminate in straightends 26, 26a which abut or substantiallyabutwhen thehinge is in closedposition as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. Thesestraight ends are adapted to fit in the corners 21, 21a of the links I9,I91: when the hinge is in open position so as to form a substantiallyclosed hinge link structure as will be seen upon a consideration of Fig.5 of the drawing.

With the hinge of the character described it will be apparent that inaddition to forming a substantially complete enclosure for the links ofthe hinge as viewed from the front when the hinge is in open position,the hoods 22, 2211 also reinforce and strengthen the complete hinge andrender the same dust and dirtproof to a greater degree than would be thecase if the links alone were employed as in conventional constructions.

Other washers or shims 251) are employed upon the pins IE, I1, 160., Ilabeyond the upper and lower walls 23, 23a to provide clearance for theprotruding endsof the pins 20, 20a. Thin washers 250 are disposed on thepins l7, Ila to make up for the thickness of the top and bottom walls23, 23a as will be apparent.

It will be understood that while I have shown my improved hoodconstruction as applied to a link hinge of predetermined structuralarrangement, that my invention is applicable to other types and kinds ofhinges in this class, the fundamental principle of the inventionresiding in the provision of the cover plates or hood members forconcealing the joints between the links of a link hinge, especially whenin open position. It will appear that the hinge in the accompanyingdrawing is of the wide throw type such as required in automotiveinstallations, but this feature is not essential to other types ofinstallations and uses of the hinge.

The hood members 22, 22a as will appear, are substantially in the formof channel-shaped plates, one end of which includes the curved portions24, 24a terminating in the straight ends 26, 26a. It will also beapparent that the top and bottom walls of said hood members coversubstantially the entire hinge links or at least the tree end portionsthereof, when the hinge is in closed position, the two hood partsforming a substantially box-shaped casing in which the links are housedas will appear upon a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A hinge comprising butt members, links pivotally coupled to each buttmember and to each other for hingedly coupling said butt members,

hood members mounted upon and secured to at least one of the links ofeach butt member formotally coupled to each butt member and to eachother for hingedly coupling said butt members, hood members mounted uponand secured to at least one of the links of each butt member formingcover plates concealing substantially all of said link members at thesides thereof adjacent the butt members, each of said hood membersincluding curved portions partially encircling and concealing thepivoted couplings between the respective links, adjacent'ends of saidhood members being straight and arranged in juxtaposition when the hingeis in closed position forming a shield around said pivotal couplings,and said hood members including top and bottom walls arranged upon upperand lower links of the hinge link unit.

3. A hinge of the class described comprising substantially similar buttmembers, two narrow links pivoted one to one butt member and the otherto the other of said butt members, two wider links pivoted one to onebutt member and the other to the other of said butt members, the freeend of the first named links being pivoted to the free ends of thesecond named links of opposed butt members, said wider links beingpivoted together adjacent the last named pivots of said links, and apair of similar cover plates arranged upon the outer surfaces of thefirst named links and contacting parts of the second named links to formhood members substantially concealing said narrow links and partiallyencircling said wide links at the sides thereof adjacent the buttmembers when said butt members are in open position.

4. A hinge of the class described comprising substantially similar buttmembers, two narrow links pivoted one to one butt member and the otherto the other of said butt members, two wider links pivoted one to onebutt member and the other to the other of said butt members, the freeend of the first named links being pivoted to the free ends of thesecond named links of opposed butt members, said wider links beingpivoted together adjacent the last named pivots of said links, coverplates arranged upon the outer surfaces of the first named links andcontacting parts of the second named links to form hood memberssubstantially concealing said narrow links and partially encircling saidwide links at the sides thereof I adjacent the butt members when saidbutt members are in open position, and said hood members having curvedportions covering the pivotal connections between said narrow links andsaid opposed wide links.

5. A hinge of the class described comprising substantially similar buttmembers, two narrow links pivoted one to one butt member and the otherto the other of said butt members, two wider links pivoted one to onebutt member and the other to the other of said butt members, the freeend of the first named links being pivoted to the free ends of thesecond named links of opposed butt members, said wider links beingpivoted together adjacent the last named pivots of said links, coverplates arranged upon the outer surfaces ofthe first named links andcontacting parts of the second named links to form hood memberssubstantially .concealing said narrow links and partially encirclingsaid wide links at the sides'thereof adjacent the butt members when saidbutt members are in open position, said hood members having curvedportions covering the pivotal connections between said narrow 11m andsaid opposed wide links, and said hood members including top and bottomwalls arranged over said'narrow links and said last named pivotalconnections.

6- A hinge oi the class described comprising substantially similar buttmembers, two narrow links pivoted one to one butt member and the otherto the other of said butt members, two wider links pivoted one to onebutt member and the other to the other of said butt members, the freeend of the first named links being pivoted to the free ends of thesecond named links of opposed butt members, said wider links beingpivoted together adjacent the last named pivots of said links, coverplates arranged upon the outer surfaces of the first named links andcontacting parts of the second named links to form hood memberssubstantially concealing said narrow links and partially encircling saidwide links at the sides thereof adjacent the butt members when said buttmembers are in open position, said hood members having curved portionscovering the pivotal connections between said narrow links and saidopposed wide links, said hood members including top and bottom wallsarranged over said links and said last named pivotal connections,elongated spacing washers arranged between said links on the pivots ofsaid butt members, the external diameter of the pivot portions of saidwashers corresponding with the external diameter of the pivot portionsof said links thereby forming substantially continuous dust-freebearings, and the ends of said hood members adjacent the pivots betweenthe narrow links and the butt members having straight edges arranged injuxtaposition to and paralleling said continuous bearings.

7. The combination with a multiple link concealed hinge of the classdescribed, of a pair of hood members arranged upon and secured topredetermined links of the hinge for covering and concealingsubstantially all of said links at one side of the hinge when the hingeis in open position and arranged in juxtaposition when the hinge isclosed, each of said hood members comprising a substantially box-shapedpart open at one side and one end thereof, and the upper and lower wallsof each part adjacent the closed end thereof having pivotal apertures.

8. A hinge comprising butt members having offset link receivingportions, a plurality of links pivotaiiy secured to each butt member,one of said links on each butt member being pivotally coupled with eachlink of the opposed butt memher, the other link of each butt memberbeing pivotally coupled to one link only of the opposed butt member,said last named links having a pair of similar cover members mounted onthe outer surfaces thereof and disposed between said links and theoffset portion of said butt members when the hinge is closed, said covermembers forming a box-like hood substantially enveloping all of thelinks of said hinge at the top, bottom and three sides thereof when thehinge is closed.

JOSEPH $058.

